Ocean Prime 5th Year Anniversary Week
Ocean Prime | November 11-17
480.347.1313 | OceanPrimePhoenix.com
Ocean Prime Celebrates its 5th anniversary by offering
guests a special five-course menu in addition to the
regular dinner menu. Designed by executive chef
Jagger Griffen, the anniversary menu features several of
Ocean Prime’s most popular dishes and includes a glass
of Prosecco with dessert.
White Christmas
Phoenix Theatre | November 20-December 24
602.254.2151 | PhoenixTheatre.com
Celebrate the holidays with this true Irving Berlin classic!
White Christmas is a great musical theatre story of the
two World War II veterans with a successful song-anddance act. With love on their minds, they meet up with
a duo of beautiful singing and dancing sisters en route
to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which
happens to be owned by their former army commander.
The Nutcracker
Symphony Hall | December 6-24
602.381.1096 | BalletAZ.org
A holiday celebration to share! Dancing toys,
mischievous mice, waltzing flowers and sparkling
snowflakes dance to Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score
performed by The Phoenix Symphony. This holiday
classic tells the story of Clara and her magical
Nutcracker Prince as they embark on a thrilling
adventure. Each year Ballet Arizona rings in the
season with Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker, creating
memories to cherish forever.
A Holiday Jazz Celebration with Marty Ashby
Musical Instrument Museum | December 21
480.478.6000 | TheMIM.org
Marty Ashby will present a Holiday Jazz Celebration, this
time with a full seventeen-piece big band! The evening
will feature new arrangements of some holiday favorites
as well as a few special twists and surprises. This year’s
featured guest is trumpet master Sean Jones, one of the
hottest musicians on the jazz scene today.

Cooler weather makes for perfect hiking conditions in Arizona. So now that
there’s a chill in the air, hit the trails for some amazing scenery, a little adventure,
and endless photo-ops. But with hundreds of hiking trails, where do you begin?
Lucky for us, our area offers options for day trippers looking for a short nature
walk to experienced hikers looking to test their limits. Be sure to pick up a guide
book at a local book store for all the details on these and many other great
hikes in our area.
If you’re looking for a trail close to Phoenix, start with Camelback Mountain,
one of the country’s best urban hikes. With trails for almost every level hiker,
Camelback provides breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings. Put this
one on your to-do list! Other great urban hikes include Piestewa (Squaw) Peak
and South Mountain Park.
Looking to get out of the city? Northern Arizona offers a myriad of exciting and
breathtakingly beautiful hiking spots. No trip north would be complete without a
trek up Humphrey’s Peak, the highest elevation in Arizona. Just north of Flagstaff,
the hike up Humphrey’s is no joke at about 4.5 miles one way (leave about 3
hours for just one way). On a clear day, hikers can see the Grand Canyon in the
distance. For a variety of trail levels in an unmatched lakeside setting, head to
Prescott National Forest where hikers are rewarded with pristine views and cool
mountain air at every turn. And for those looking for an easy hike, the West Fork
Oak Creek Trail never disappoints. High canyon walls, shallow creek beds, and
level trails make this the perfect hike for families. Don’t forget the camera...
you will regret it!
Heading east, you’ll find the White Mountains, with more than 180 miles of
developed trails. Lushly forested, this trail system offers connected trails that are
from 8 to 16 miles in length. Some are remote and not frequently traveled, so
head here if you’re an experienced hiker looking to reconnect with nature. Hikers
heading south will want to check out Coronado National Forest, a perfect spot to
explore the desert lowlands during the mild Arizona winters.
Just remember, before you start out on your journey, make sure you’ve packed
appropriately. A light pack filled with plenty of water, topographical maps to help
navigate varying elevations, sun block, and your cell phone should all be brought
along. Also, bring layers for the cool mountain air as you ascend. And finally,
be on the lookout
for rattlesnakes,
scorpions, coyotes,
bobcats, mountain
lions, and other
wildlife. Don’t disturb
any animal you may
encounter on the
path. Happy trails!

Your Backyard

Hosting your entire clan for Thanksgiving dinner this year?
Gulp! It’s quite an undertaking...especially if you’ve got a
big family. In addition to all the gourmet fixings you have to
purchase and prepare, you need to be sure you have the
necessary space and accoutrements to pull off a successful fete.
Don’t sweat it – we will help you pull off a party in style!
Since dining is the main event on turkey day, first be sure to check
that you have plenty of seating at the dining room table. If need
be, bring in chairs from other rooms in your home (if there’s still not
enough seating, it might be time to visit your favorite furniture shop
to give your dining room an upgrade). While you’re at it, rethink your
dining and great rooms’ curtains, area rugs, and decorative items
so that they speak to the fall season and envelop your guests in
warmth and comfort. Creating that fall feeling can be as simple as
swapping out some light summer colors with rich, earthy autumn hues
and adding some shimmering candles
and harvest-inspired accessories.
Next, try giving your Thanksgiving feast
a dress rehearsal, complete with
everything but the actual food. Set up
the chairs to make sure people can
easily get in and out of their seats, put
out the linen tablecloths and napkins to
ensure they are wrinkle free, arrange an
autumn centerpiece to get the height
just right, and set out wine glasses and
water goblets to check for spots.
Consider setting a separate kids’ table

in the same room that can be
decorated with a festive children’s
Thanksgiving theme. And don’t forget special touches such as name
place markers, fancy folded napkins, and polished flatware to really
set the stage. Quick tip: Designate a serving bowl, platter, and serving
utensils to each dish on your menu to ensure everything has a place
come mealtime. Prepping ahead can really save your sanity. Some
hosts even like to put a note inside each bowl or basket identifying
exactly which dish is supposed to go where so there’s no last-minute
confusion.
You’ll also want to make sure there’s plenty of seating in the great
room during cocktail hour before and after your meal. Check for ample
comfortable seating and plenty of cocktail table space for drinks and
snacks. It’s always nice to have a spot to put a drink near every seat,
so try to look around and make sure your guests can do just that.
Occasional chairs are perfect for big events like Thanksgiving, Hanukah
or Christmas and can be the perfect piece to place in corners and
empty spots in your rooms, ready to be pulled out when needed.
Worried that you still won’t have enough space for the in-laws and
the rest of the family? It may be time to speak with a real estate
professional about looking for a bigger, better home for entertaining.
Who knows? By this time next year, you could be hosting the holidays
in your new dream home!

Wisconsin Triple Cheese Fondue

Local Flavor!

The West Select | A New Western Classic
Phoenix Art Museum | November 10-December 31
602.257.1222 | TheWestSelect.com
The West Select is a Western invitational art sale and
exhibition. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, and
photographs, the works in the exhibition reveal iconic
landscapes, wildlife, and depictions of the modern or
“New West”. Proceeds benefit the Men’s Arts Council
of Phoenix Art Museum, a non-profit organization that
supports the programs and activities of Phoenix Art
Museum through unique events.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1 1/2 c shredded Butterkase cheese

Toss the Butterkase and Fontina
cheeses with the flour in a bowl.
Place a metal bowl over a saucepan
filled with two inches of water.
You may also use a conventional
double boiler. Bring the water to a
boil over high heat. Reduce the
heat to medium and pour the wine
and sherry into the bowl. Stir in the
shallots using a fork. Cook for
30 seconds stirring constantly.

Add half of the cheese blend, and
stir constantly until the cheese is
melted. Add the remaining cheese
blending a small amount at a time
and stirring constantly. Fold in the
pepper and blue cheese. Pour into a
warm fondue pot and keep warm over
low heat. Garnish with the scallions.